Case Studies

Met spit guards

by Mark Rowe

The Metropolitan Police will roll out a three-month pilot for the use of spit guards in a small number of custody suites from Monday, 19 December, after consultation.

The Met points to its duty of care to officers and staff. The Met says that spitting and biting is a real problem – an unpleasant form of assault, that generates much concern amongst officers. Some of the follow-up treatment required after such an assault can be prolonged and unpleasant.

The Met says that it has been looking at potential ways of minimising the threat. Spit guards are a nationally approved piece of police personal safety equipment already used by 22 UK police forces, including within London by British Transport Police. The purpose of a spit guard is to protect officers from suspects who are spitting and biting by aiming to prevent the transfer of bodily fluids and reduce the risk to them.

This pilot will run for three months in five custody suites in north-east London. Custody suites have CCTV recording at all times and there is always supervision present.

After the trial, the Met, with the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), will assess whether to expand the trial use of spit guards to other custody suites.

The trial will happen at Forest Gate Custody Base, Newham Borough; Redbridge Custody Base, Redbridge Borough; Fresh Wharf Custody Base, Barking and Dagenham Borough; Leyton Custody Base, Waltham Forest Borough, and Havering Custody Base, Havering Borough.

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